Dating Ideas: Amusement Park and Picnic Dates & More

Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant, LMHC
Updated December 10, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Experts agree that in romantic relationships, it’s important to spend meaningful time together. If you’re craving some bonding time with your romantic partner, a date night may be just what you’re looking for. Fun date ideas can range from the classic dinner and a movie to more complicated scavenger hunts to relaxing walks around your neighborhood. 

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The benefits of spending quality time with your partner
There are many potential benefits to spending regular quality time with your romantic partner. Some of these include:
  • Creating shared memories and a shared history
  • Trying something new and growing together
  • Increasing your sense of connectedness
  • Having dedicated time to catch up, especially if life has been busy 
  • Relieving stress 

A date night with your partner doesn't have to be an extravagant affair; it can be as simple or complex as you'd like it to be. If you're looking for dating ideas on how to spend special time with your loved one, see below.

Date night ideas involving food: Dinner and a movie, a romantic picnic, or cooking for each other

The classic concept of a date often includes food, and there are a variety of ways you can build on this theme. Here are a few examples.

Doing dinner and a movie

Some would argue that dinner and a movie is a quintessential date idea, particularly for a first date. It can be ideal for situations where you don’t yet know the person well, as watching a movie together can create a shared experience that may then spark further conversation. Or, if you’re taking your long-time partner on a dinner-and-a-movie date, you might pick a film you’ve both been wanting to see and then eat at your favorite restaurant to get your bonding time in.

Going on a romantic picnic

If you’re looking for cheap dating ideas that are still meaningful, it’s hard to beat a picnic. All you have to do is pack a few snacks and find a quiet spot at a park or a beach to enjoy each other’s company. There can be something deeply romantic about picking a beautiful spot to enjoy some food together, just the two of you. 

Cooking food for each other

Cooking a meal that you’ll then enjoy together can be a romantic and intimate experience. If you’re not confident in your cooking skills, you and your partner could even take a cooking class together, as learning new things alongside each other can help you develop a stronger bond. 

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Date night ideas not involving food: Going to an amusement park, a drive-in movie, or ice skating

Of course, an outing does not have to involve food for it to be considered a date. You might also think about creative date ideas that do not revolve around a meal, like the ideas listed below.  

Going to an amusement park

Visiting an amusement park can be expensive, so this kind of date probably won't become a regular occurrence for most, but that can be part of the fun. Putting yourself outside of your comfort zone on roller coasters and other rides can be a way to deepen your connection with your partner. You could also compete in booth games and maybe even win each other some prizes to keep as mementos.

Watching a drive-in movie

A drive-in movie puts a new spin on an old dating idea of watching a movie together. Drive-in movies are less common today than they once were, so it can create a sense of nostalgia and coziness to go watch a movie together under the night sky. One advantage a drive-in movie has over movie theaters is that you can also customize your experience by bringing your own blankets, pillows, and snacks. 

Ice skating

Although ice skating is not available all year round in most places, it can become a special tradition during the winter months. Ice skating is another example of an activity that might put many people outside of their comfort zone. Plus, if you’re an inexperienced skater, you’ll likely need to hold your partner’s hand while skating around. This can be a cozy form of physical intimacy—a type of intimacy that research suggests may correlate with relationship and partner satisfaction.

Unique and unconventional date ideas

If you have been in a relationship for a while, you may be looking to spice things up with new and fun date options. For example, you can try setting up a scavenger hunt for you and your partner to pursue together, with clues that allude to meaningful moments and memories in your relationship. You could attend an escape room, in which you and your partner must work together to figure your way out of a complex puzzle. Or, you could plan an “alphabet date” series in which you complete an activity corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. 

Group date ideas

Group dates can be a way to save money on dating while also having a bonding experience with your friends and your partner. They may be opportunities to forge some “couples friendships” too. Classic group date ideas include attending a trivia night at your local bar or pub or hosting a game night. You can also make any of the above date ideas into a double date by inviting another couple along. 

Mental health support for the stress of relationship challenges

Romantic relationships are often a source of fulfillment and joy, but like any relationship, they can also involve conflict and tension at times. It can sometimes help to talk to an objective outsider like a mental health counselor about any concerns you may be encountering in dating or in a committed romantic relationship. They can help you organize your thoughts and express your feelings in a nonjudgmental space. If you’re experiencing stress or signs of anxiety or depression, they can also suggest a treatment plan to address these concerns.

A male and female couple sit next to each other at a table while smiling and holdng hands.
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Exploring the option of online therapy

Whether you’re dating or in a relationship, it can be difficult to find time for in-person therapy appointments. Between scheduling sessions and commuting, seeking this kind of support can take a lot of time. That’s why more and more people are turning to online therapy instead. Through a platform like BetterHelp for individuals or ReGain for couples, you can meet with a therapist remotely from home and on a schedule that works best for you. 

A growing body of research indicates that online therapy may often be as effective as traditional in-person therapy for treating many different mental health concerns. For example, one study examined the use of online therapy in relationship counseling. Its findings suggest that this type of care helped boost overall relationship satisfaction as well as sexual intimacy among participating couples. 
Takeaway
It can sometimes be difficult to come up with new and fun date night ideas, whether you are trying to impress a first date or spice things up with your long-term romantic partner. Exploring unconventional dating options and inviting your friends along on double dates can be interesting ways to take a regular date to the next level for a more unique and fun night.
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